Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 Sammy asks

Q: 8 month old baby boy, sick a lot and has a cough a lot

Hi,

 

Im so pelased to have found this website. I hope you can help. My son is 8 months old, and is sick (I think you call it spitting up in the US) throughout the day, after meals, when he burps, hours after eating, at night time.

 

He was given infant gaviscon when he was about 3/4 months old, but i stopped that after a while bcos it didnt seem to do anything really. He is now 8 months old and I would have thought with him being on solids it would have stopped him spitting up, but it hasnt. if anything its worse and we have to change him a lot of times in the day, as his clothes are always wet with sick, it smells very acidic too.

 

He also has a cough a lot of the time, not a cold associated with a cold, but an intermittent dry cough. he also wakes up in the night screaming, its like he wants food to comfort him. he is on a good routine and not waking with hunger.

 

Do you think he could have reflux?

 

Thank you x

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Answers (2)
2/17/09 7:22pm

Hello Sammy,

 

Thank you for your message. So what do you call spit up in your part of the world?! Just curious!

 

While spit up is common in infancy, it often decreases as a baby nears one year of age. Sometimes spit up continues past a year. If the baby grows and doesn't have any other health concerns from the spit up, it is often considered Gastroesophageal Reflux or GER. GER is common and doesn't require any medical treatment.

 

Your little guy is having persistent spit up and a cough. This is a more worrisome combination and needs to be investigated. Sometimes GER can trigger a cough and in this case the condition may be called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. Only a doctor can diagnose GER or GERD. There may be other reasons for the symptoms too so the doctor is really the first stop.

 

I think it is a good idea to document the extent of the problem before going to the doctor or calling the doctor. It really helps the doctor if you say, My baby spit up __ times per day and wakes up __ times at night in pain. The doctor may not understand the extent of the problem if you say, My baby spits up a lot and never sleeps all night.

 

Some babies have digestive issues and respiratory symptoms due to food allergies and intolerances so it might help to document his diet and share this information with the doctor. Rashes, gas and constipation may be other signs of food related issues.

 

Let me know if you need further assistance.

 

Best wishes,


Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

Reply
3/ 1/09 2:57pm

My son is almost 9 months and spitts up everything and is very fussy.  I have noticed a cough that he has had for awhile.  What can I do to help him be relieved from this?

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